Getting rid of electrical item no longer required

Oh my word, you ladies don't know the half of it! My DH is a real techie and he can NEVER throw anything away. Fortunately (unfortunately?) we have an enormous loft. To my knowledge it contains:
4 old computers
5 monitors
3 turntables
6 speakers
4 antique radios
2 crates of cables
All sorts of photographic and video equipment
Plus lots and lots of boxes just in case they are needed.

I keep trying to persuade him that we need a good clear-out, but he won't be budged. I just try to think of it as 3 feet of loft insulation!

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Or if you decide to throw it out (after holding onto it for 20 years ) and a week later you need it? That has happened so often.

Kali2

But everytime we keep something because it could be useful one day - and we get rid after many years, you can bet that a week or two later, something breaks and we say 'ah got just the thing to repair it' and you realise you finally threw it away recently!

Absolutely, Kali2.

BUT, if you hadn't thrown it out, can you find the b*gger when you need it?

No commas , sorry ?

Oh and as to hoarding my dh is currently making a cabinet out of old wood stored as a just in case. We have so many cables plugs bits of wood tins of whatever screws nails bits of old car and strangely yes sometimes these things have come in handy

JackyB I find it strange there are no charity shops in Germany. I came across an Oxfam once though which I got quite excited about.
They are such a good way to make money for the various charities. In most towns,both big and small, there are generally 4 or 5 shops given over to different charities .
Thinking about it I havnt come across charity shops in other European countries either.

But everytime we keep something because it could be useful one day - and we get rid after many years, you can bet that a week or two later, something breaks and we say 'ah got just the thing to repair it' and you realise you finally threw it away recently!

Pepper59

No, definitely not alone but why does this issue appear to be a male one? Or do any ladies hoard things too? I confess my passion is books. I do have some vinyl and CDs I won't part with as I still dig them out and play them. I do have a clear out periodically though.

You're not alone, Pepper59, I'm a dreadful hoarder. I have to really be very stern with myself to get rid of anything. Mr M isn't as bad as me, but he's not a great one for decluttering either, so we get along fine.

I totally agree with grandtante about not throwing DH’s things away without consulting him. I’m quite shocked how many of you just chuck someone else’s stuff without asking.

I too would be livid if he threw my stuff away without checking first.

You really need to agree on what is kept or disposed of.

I have learned that it's not worth keeping many things and it's far better to get rid of them while they could still be used. Clothes - I have many that will never be in fashion again and which I could only donate to amateur dramatic societies.

Computer parts - no longer useable.

My DH has books wall to ceiling in his study. He retired from teaching 8 years ago. He taught French and Latin. Over the years the books changed but he kept all the old sets, including teacher's books, workbooks, etc. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of literature and secondary literature.

I was shocked to see another delivery of books arrive the other day. I am trying desperately to get rid of books,but this is another thing that no one wants any more.

When I get given a book, I download it into my Kindle and put the book in a box to give away. But it's not easy to find anywhere to give them away to. As I have said before, we don't have charity shops here in Germany.

Buy, not but.

My former partner hated throwing anything away. Twice a year we would go shopping and do a bulk buy for him of socks, shirts, pants etc. He always wore black socks and my rule was, but a dozen new pairs so get rid of a dozen old pairs, those that had washed out to a murky dark grey or were getting thin at the heels and toes. He loathed this but went along with it.

One day, having done the clear out the bin men came so he had to wave goodbye to his old socks. Later that day we were driving through the village after the refuse lorry had been through and he suddenly shouted in an anguished voice ‘I think that’s one of my socks!’ I looked in the rear view mirror to see a manky old black sock lying in the middle of the road. I honestly think he expected me to stop the car so that he could retrieve it. ?

No, definitely not alone but why does this issue appear to be a male one? Or do any ladies hoard things too? I confess my passion is books. I do have some vinyl and CDs I won't part with as I still dig them out and play them. I do have a clear out periodically though.

You know the saying plant the seed and watch it grow ??? Well ive been planting that many seeds that a forest could have emerged.

All the seeds called "Get rid" wither and die.

My husbands face contorts and turns a shade of crimson whenever i begin a sentence with "You don't use/wear......." I get nooooo further with my sentence before he jumps in and says " You leave my -- alone."

It infuriates me. Grrrrrrrrr, but thankfully im not alone phewwwwww haha.

Oh my goodness I see I’m not alone! We’ve got - his dad’s stamp and coin collections; a suitcase full of DH toys as well as scout outfit; even his dad’s teddy bear, must be 90+ year’s old but completely threadbare; tea and dinner services; hifi set that went to the loft when we moved in 22 years ago; 1970s car magazines; I could go on and on…….

What is it with men and hoarding? Mine is also one of the worst, but it's comforting to know I'm not alone. I have taken to getting rid of things which are obviously no longer of use without consulting him as I just can't bear the clutter any longer. Our local authority accepts things like small electricals, cables etc. as part of the fortnightly recyclable collection as long as they are in a bag and put at the top of the box. I have got rid of a few things that way.

maddyone ditto seedlings, in spare bedroom despite greenhouse and plugs, cables, mobile phones. He could open a DIY shop except most of the stuff is old or not fit for purpose!

When my Dad died in 1998, my brother went into the loft where he found 2 old and broken video recorders. Mum said Dad put them up there when they were replaced as " they may come in useful one day"

I put things aside for a couple of months or more ,then ask again whether we can dispose of them.

I would never throw anything out or give it away without asking DH first if it was his.

I would be furious if he disposed of anything I consider mine, after all.

The things that are ours - not presents to one or other of us, or bought for the one spouse's sole use, like the things that are his, I would only get rid of after discussing it with DH.

My things? I would mention before getting rid of anything that I intended to do so After all it might have sentimental associations for him, even if I no longer want it.

DH has a 30ft x 8 ft workshop well insulated, with power, light and heating, but still does his DIY on the kitchen table.

He says he feels lonely up there - it is at the end of the garden, so 75 feet from the house.

He’s got a greenhouse but he grows his seedlings in the kitchen! I kid you not!

You’re all making me smile with your stories of hoarder husbands. I thought I had the worst, but I see he’s got competition. We also have a full garage, loft, and every cupboard filled. He also collects plugs, cables, screwdrivers, strange glues, and bottles of every cleaner known to man, but definitely not known to woman, not in this house anyway. I find his tools and cables and bottles of strange things in the kitchen, in the study, hidden in corners in the living room, under the piano in the dining room, and even upstairs in the bedroom where he keeps his clothes. I can’t win. I’ve given up.

We've got 2 shag pile rugs up in the loft that have been carted from house to house since the 1970s because "there's nothing wrong with them and they might come in". Anyone want 2 brown shag pile rugs (possibly mouldy and moth eaten)?

Oh, shelflife, the plastic plant pots, another story. I do feel it will come to his hoarding or I will issue an ultimatum. There is a vintage car that is never driven and his pride and joy that only comes out in the summer so that my much enjoyed Mini becomes the family car in the winter. Garage full to capacity so I struggle to access the freezer there.